Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent Paperback – 9 Jun. 2009

Mr Burton is one of the most informed intelligence officers I have ever read! His ability to transport the reader is first rate!

I first came across Fred Burton on the Danger Close podcast. I had no idea the DSS was an Intel agency, I was only aware of the CP work they do. This book provides a fascinating history of the years leading up to 9/11 from an unusual angle. Well worth the read.

Great item.

Ghost, Confessions of a counter Terrorism agent By Fred Burton A review by the Cote d'Azur Men's Book Club One can really get spooked reading about the spies, or the spooks, or the good guys who lurk in the shadows and follow the baddies. Fact is those who wear the badge of courage, the counter this or counter that agents like our current hero, Fred Burton, form a guerilla army of ghosts whose spirits tackle the evil world of terror. Ever since President George W Bush declared his War on Terror, the world has been obsessed by the problem of neutralizing the real ghosts, the shadows that lurk in caves and hidey holes and plan death and destruction to their enemies. Bin Laden, the architect of 9/11 seems to be the chief ghost, the terrorist whose picture adorned a chart in the White House with Bush, black marker pen in hand, waiting every day for the news that would have meant his enemy was dead. The Cote d' Azur Men's Book Club metaphorically followed Mr. Burton on his -wide search for the bad guys from the Dark Side through the tension of Iraq, Pakistan, London, Paris. He searched `em here, he searched `em there, he searched for `em everywhere but his ghost could not frighten anyone. Word comes in, for example, that an informer is in the bag. Then comes a desultory record of an interrogation that ends in the realization that the guy's father's cousin on his brother's side heard a rumour that an Al Queda member was seen three weeks ago in a bazaar, and so on. Give me the money says the informer. There are a few gems though, like the part where Mr. Burton, a policeman who joined the Diplomatic Security Service in Washington, found himself investigating the plane crash that killed President Zia of Pakistan and most of his top staff. The spooks pointed a shaking finger at Moscow. The comrades, the theory went, were not happy at the American support for the muhajideens who trod on the Bear's toes during the Afghanistan war A doctored can of Coke found in the shattered cockpit contained traces of a deadly nerve gas. The can detonated as the plane took off overcoming the pilots and plane nose-dived into the ground. There was no real evidence except for minute explosive traces on the Hercules and in the tin of Coke but, hey guys, this sure as hell looks like the KBG. Remember that Zia was not the Kremlin's best friend. This book is Smiley's People without the sophisticatioa real life look at the world of the snoopers and sleuths who live and dream the role of guardians for the elite. It is an exciting and gripping tale of skullduggery that perhaps began with the innocence of the Peace Corps, on to Kennedy, Vietnam and Johnson until today where "Saint" Barak is guarding the portals of the White House. Ghost may not have the sophistication of John La Carre's masterpieces for it is more a modern wild west story with the critters hiding in caves and gulches with nary a smoke signal in sight. Instead of Red Indians on the warpath we have the Taliban threatening Pakistan and Al Queda and Bin Laden biding their time to again take revenge on the infidel

picked this up from Borders today, and have to admit it's a cracking good read. fast paced and lively like Sniper One by Sgt Dan Mills, it brings you into the action and poses some good solutions to really hairy situations.don't leave for basra without it ;-)